ACES ON BRIDGE
Dear Mr. Wolff:I play fit-jumps in my regular partnership, but we have yet to agree where they apply. Are there any blanket rules I can follow?
— Clued In, Tucson, Ariz. ANSWER: A fit-jump is where a bidder jumps in a new suit to show an invitational (or better) hand with at least four-card support for partner’s last-bid suit (which has not yet been supported), along with length and strength in the new suit, typically five cards. By a passed hand, I tend to play it as always on; by an unpassed hand, only in competitive auctions. In uncontested constructive auctions, you can usually start by raising your partner and then showing your sidesuit later, if necessary.
Dear Mr. Wolff:Say auction starts with one heart on your left, a double from your partner and two hearts on your right. What does your double show? — Responsive, Palm Springs, Calif.
ANSWER: Even if you usually play a double of a suit bid as penalty after your partner’s takeout double, that should not apply here, when your opponents have bid and raised hearts. Instead, this should be a responsive double, usually denying four spades (otherwise, you would bid the suit) and showing enough values to compete. It can contain stronger types: for example, an invitational hand with spades.
Dear Mr. Wolff:What is better after a strong two-club opening: two diamonds to show 0-7 points, or using that call as waiting, which could be more?
— Michelle Ma Belle, Hartford, Conn.
ANSWER: Playing two diamonds as waiting is fine by me. Other calls by responder are positives, but not necessarily showing a great suit at the two-level. After a two-diamond response and a twoheart or two-spade rebid by opener, all calls by responder except three clubs are natural. Three clubs is the second negative, showing 0-4 points. You can stop short of game only if you make a double negative and partner rebids his suit.
Dear Mr. Wolff:At favorable vulnerability, would you overcall one heart over your right-hand opponent’s one-club opening with SPADES 10, HEARTS A-8-7-5-4, DIAMONDS 7-5, CLUBS 10-9-7-6-5?
— Gray Area, Dover, Del.
ANSWER: I think an overcall here would be taking things too far. Yes, you want a heart lead, and it might be nice to cramp the auction if you find a fit, but your partner should be entitled to expect more in high cards than this. One heart is a gamble without much upside.
Dear Mr. Wolff:What would you open with SPADES A-K-Q-6-5, HEARTS A-K-Q-8-7-3, DIAMONDS J, CLUBS 6 as dealer with everyone vulnerable?
— Monster Hand, Boise, Idaho
ANSWER: I would open two clubs. If we have the auction to ourselves, I can get my two-suited hand across by bidding hearts, then spades, then hearts. If my partner cannot cue-bid along the way, we will not have a slam. If the opponents intervene, I might be able to cue-bid to show a two-suited hand. While the risk of one heart being passed out is low when I have so much distribution, my partner may never believe I have this much playing strength if I start low.